Home › Forums › Buying and Selling › Scavenging for Inventory › Cookie Molds?
- This topic has 26 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 9 months ago by Jay.
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06/08/2019 at 11:45 am #63143
I just made a $500. (probably more) in cookie molds. I began listing them and within a few hours of listing them, I received a message asking if I had more. Why, yes I do! I have at least 200 more. Long story short, I have been in contact with what is apparently a “Martha Stewart” of sorts as she would like to purchase “all” the molds I have! These are resin molds and apparently from my research, cookie molds are quite the commodity. Who knew!
The potential buyer has made many requests-photos, lists, prices, quantities, yadda,yadda. All told, I have invested about 3 hours this morning alone to cataloguing, emailing her and answering her questions. Does anyone have a guide they use in an instance such as this? The molds are all new, half of them are “2nds”, which she also wants to purchase. She is asking for a “deep discount”. My question is how “deep” is reasonable to a seasoned seller? I was thinking 20-25% off the retail price, but that may seem “unreasonable” for someone making such a large purchase. I have never been in such a situation. Does anyone have any input on this scenario?
The molds are House on the Hill and are pretty pricey.
https://www.houseonthehill.net/ -
06/08/2019 at 12:51 pm #63146
I wouldn’t sell yourself short. If you are confident you can get say 20.00 a piece for them I’d probably offer her no less than fifteen a piece for example. If you need the cash then go for it but if not I’d sit on them and make more. But again just my opinion. I hate it when people try to pressure me to give them a steep discount and tend to say thanks but I know I this is a fair price and I’m willing to wait for it. I once had one person guarantee me there was no way I would get what I was asking and it would still be there in a month’s time. I sold it for my asking price less than a month later and I wanted to email them and tell them maybe not to buy any lottery tickets… but I didn’t. 🙂 But again just an internet stranger’s .02. They look like a really fun thing to be able to have around. I love pretty things to list. 🙂
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06/08/2019 at 1:05 pm #63147
Thank you @Elle! I’m so glad you wrote what you did. I agree. I don’t want to sell myself short! She offered me $1,000. for the lot. HA! Once I get done with paypal, ebay, taxes and COG, I will have taken a hit on these. No thank you. I immediately declined her offer. I will
sit on them if need be. I looked at a baker’s forum and found this:“May I ask, why are resin reproduction molds so expensive? Surely resin can’t cost that much.
Just curious, MaureenThe best response I can offer is that the silicones and resins used to produce them are not inexpensive. I’m told the price of these materials will be rising because they contain a petroleum base.
Ken
and here is the link:
http://www.thespringerlebaker.com/ken_forum.htmlEach mold goes anywhere from $22.95-upwards of $100. I have many in the $50. range and many in the $100. range. I’ll wait.
It’s always good to get a seasoned sellers opinion and I appreciate you giving me yours, @Elle. Thanks! -
06/08/2019 at 1:07 pm #63148
What is it worth for you to not have to list each one individually? If they are unlisted inventory and she wants a whole bunch, I’d be looking at at least a 50% discount (as long as you still have a decent profit).
It’s your stuff, so do what makes sense for you. If you really enjoy listing and selling those items, then make her pay up.
I’m curious as to what she really will pay.
Good Luck.
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06/08/2019 at 1:29 pm #63151
@SoCalJoe, I would be happy to give her a 50% discount. Unfortunately, she is offering me pennies on their value. I have invested $500. She is offering me $1000. I would be doing her a favor.
She has asked me for photos of all, lists of all, etc. Now she is asking me to research each cookie mold for her. Really? I will research each mold. For a 50% discount I don’t mind. Not for pennies on her dollar though. She does seem extremely interested as we have exchanged too many emails, so I know she is serious. Many of these go for $100. each. At least 6 of them are over $100. 2 alone go for $150./each-They have metal faces. At least 20 of them are in the $80. range. I agreed to wait til Monday to begin listing if we don’t have a deal. I also sell on Etsy, so that may be an option. We shall see. I much prefer selling to one person and being done. She has stated that I, under ebay policy am under no obligation to sell what is not listed through ebay. Okay. Yea. That is all I need is for ebay to end my listings, or shut me down due to her comment. Oh Jeez. Hope not!
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06/08/2019 at 1:30 pm #63153
*be done
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06/08/2019 at 1:36 pm #63155
Don’t offer to sell the molds outside of eBay, and you should be OK.
I would give her the prices you would list them at, and then say you will give her a percentage off for a large sale (maybe start at 15-25% off). The idea is to negotiate down, not up. You are in control when you start at a pie in the sky price and come down. She is in control when she gives you a low ball offer, and then you have to bring the price up.
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06/08/2019 at 1:41 pm #63156
She is obviously very interested in these items, so that puts you at an advantage. However, if she has a “Martha Stewart” type of business, then she is probably wanting to resell the molds. She might not be interested in giving you a fair deal if she is going to turn around and sell them to her customers. She may not be the type of person you want as your buyer.
Unless something has been sitting in my inventory for a long time, I want to be able to sell to a collector or end-user. I don’t want to sell to a middle-man.
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06/08/2019 at 1:56 pm #63162
@SoCalJoe, I just realized in re-reading your response. You are right in that I don’t want to keep listing each item. Your response also made me re-think my strategy, so thank you! I may list as small lots. This way, I get rid of 3-4 at a time, rather than listing 1 x 1. If someone asks for just one of, I can still make a profit and re-list the others. Still hoping I can work out a deal with this potential buyer. I did tell her I am looking at getting a percentage of the original though.
@Sharyn, I agree with you. She may not be the buyer I need. She has taken up all of my morning and some of yesterday. She also initially stated that she was buying for her sister and niece, and to me, this translates to “I am going to re-sell these”. Another reason I am proceeding with caution. Immediately when I saw her offer, I thought she must be trying to get them to re-sell. Maybe she teaches baking, or another use is for crafting. People make jewelry with cookie molds and paper crafts, so who knows. I can really use $1,000. but “profit”, not including fees, time, cog. -
06/08/2019 at 2:04 pm #63164
Do you have many duplicates, or are they all different?
If you have several molds, all new in packaging, of the same type, then it isn’t a big deal to list them one by one. It reduces the number of listings you have to create.
However, if they are all different, then you should consider selling them in lots.
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06/08/2019 at 2:51 pm #63169
I have mostly individual one of a kinds. There are a few which are duplicates, however, there are a few listings already on ebay which are in lots of 3. These are the things that make me want to start a YouTube channel. When sellers have a YouTube channel, they have a wider audience than just waiting on ebay. There seems to be quite a following of these cookie makers/bakers, also referred to as springerel/speculaas cookies. They are really pretty and each cookie mold even has hanging hardware! It seems people collect them just because they are so nice. I don’t yet know how to post a photo in a forum, otherwise, I would post a photo-but here are some of my links if you would like to see what they look like:
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06/08/2019 at 2:58 pm #63170
I can’t seem to spell today. *Springerle.
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06/08/2019 at 3:56 pm #63172
She may not be your buyer. I’d be careful about spending too much time trying to accommodate her requests for pictures etc.
It sounds like you made a great score buying items that you are knowledgeable about. You should be rewarded for your efforts at a price that makes sense for you.
I agree on selling some in lots or small groups and then selling the more prized ones by themselves.
Try to get as many listed as possible at the same time. People may want to buy more than one and will be happy with a combined shipping discount.
Good Luck
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06/08/2019 at 5:45 pm #63173
@SoCalJoe, You hit the nail on the head! I found myself spending a lot of time with her and I caught myself. So I sent her a message after her last request for photos-again. I told her that I had “Saturday stuff” to do and I had to go but to please give me a number so that I know whether or not to proceed with this. When she offered me $1,000. I immediately replied with “thanks, but…”. She immediately responded and I just got back to her and said I was going on with my day and that we will further discuss tomorrow.
However, your prior response sent me into a frenzy of ideas. I took some video and thought that I would upload a video, give her a link to view the video-and this would also serve as a record of what was in the box, if she followed through. Worse case scenario, I have it for the next potential buyer. I will post a link when I do upload it. More likely tomorrow. I have a show to get to tonight.
Thanks for your helps thoughts, @SoCalJoe!
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06/08/2019 at 7:22 pm #63176
Those cookie molds are neat looking. The rolling pins on solds/terapeak seem to go for the most, but the normal wooden molds sell steadily for 20-40 apiece + shipping.
At the lower end, if sold for just 20 apiece, they would sell for a gross profit of 4k. At the very least, a “fair” discount of 50% off would be 2k. 1k is not a “fair” offer from the buyer, whether her intention is to resell or use (who knows?).
At the very least, if you continue to list these at reasonable prices, they will definitely slowly sell over time for a lot more than 1k.
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06/08/2019 at 8:21 pm #63179
The molds sell well: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=house+on+the+hill+mold&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1&_sop=16
You could try putting a couple on auction. Or list each one separately and research each one accordingly.
Remember if the seller is hungrier, they will pay. If the seller is hungrier, then the buyer makes out. Who’s hungrier here?
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06/08/2019 at 10:08 pm #63186
Daisy,
I think you are sitting on a gold mine here. Conservatively, you have 4k – 5k worth of product.
I would be entertaining offers in the 2.5k -3k range for all if I were in this situation.
If you take the time to list in small lots and the expensive ones individually, you may realize 5k or more over time. This is one of those great pipelines that you now have. I have learned from R&J the art of listing items individually (if it makes sense) from a large set and realizing the full potential over time.
Mark
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06/09/2019 at 2:50 am #63189
@almasty, I agree on the buyer not being fair. Actually, I was very surprised to get such a lowball offer. I guess I shouldn’t be-but I was.
Jay, yes, I realized through research that these do sell well. They are very useful for jewelry makers, potters, crafters, soap makers, printmakers, I’m sure there are many I’m missing here. Even I got many ideas of what to do with these. I like the idea of listing in small lots and trying the auction for a few to see where it goes.
Mark, I agree with you on he potential of what the returns could be. Initially, I too calculated a rough figure of 5k in the big scheme of things. Now, to break it to the potential buyer…
Here is a 5 minute video of most of the molds, if anyone is interested. I have more. Each square represents 1″.
Thanks for your input on this!
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06/09/2019 at 3:36 pm #63209
Update: I just made my first sale on some of the cookie molds. The lady who lowballed me for $!,000. bought them.
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06/09/2019 at 10:33 pm #63222
I would totally list those one at a time. It is worth the effort. They are SUPER easy to list/ship.
start every one as an auction starting at $24.99 and list 20 or so a week. -
06/10/2019 at 2:22 am #63227
Thanks for the tip, @Retro Treasures. I will definitely try that. As Mark pointed out, listing one at a time is the way to go. I could almost hear Ryanne’s voice the time she talked about how she listed pencils one by one. Which reminds me-I have a shoe box full of pencils to list. I put up a listing for a “lot” of 4 cookie molds, but right after I listed it, I realized someone may not want those particular 4 molds. Decisions, decisions.
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06/10/2019 at 8:04 am #63228
yep i was going to say the same thing, list them one at a time. they are just too cool to sell cheap in groups.
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06/10/2019 at 7:10 pm #63305
Ryanne, I guess I was wrong! The lot of 4 just sold today. Guess I’ll be posting as many as I can tonight. Hope to keep this train rolling! So far I have recouped $120. of my approximately $500. investment. I love cookies!
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06/13/2019 at 11:53 am #63403
O.m.g. This lady who low balled me has e-mailed me almost everyday. I pulled all the cookie mold listings because I was still under pricing them. I can’t seem to find prices for all of them, so this makes me think there are some “rare” ones in the mix. I know 1 mold I have is going for $109.99 on ebay and is listed as “rare”.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Springerle-Speculaas-Butter-Cookie-Paper-Print-Stamp-Press-Mold-8-LEAVES/264320406369?hash=item3d8ab95361:g:aWQAAOSwvPBcwRDh:sc:USPSPriority!60647!US!-1What do I tell this lady who already purchased 4 and is pretty relentless asking me all kinds of questions? Today she is asking if I’ll be posting any more any time soon. I told her not at the “give away prices” I had them for.
She inquired about 4 specific molds, and one of them I cannot find anywhere on the net. I told her that I decided to go in “another direction” with them and she responded “Opening up a bakery? :)” to which I replied “Close. A cookie mold museum.” Her response “Really? There is such a thing? Where? Are you starting one?” to which I replied “I jest.”
ugh
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06/13/2019 at 12:07 pm #63404
Just because someone messages you, does not mean you must respond.
Go silent. List the molds as you see fit.Choices:
–put one on auction that you think is rare.
–or list it for a super high price with “make offer”. See what kind of offers you get.
This is how you can suss out the market.Biggest thing is to have fun and not get sucked into someone’s drama.
- This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Jay.
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06/13/2019 at 12:11 pm #63405
You are right, Jay. I have a few duplicates. I may post the duplicates using your suggestions. This lady is a bit much. Thanks for your suggestions. I am learning so much through this forum and the SL podcasts!
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06/13/2019 at 12:16 pm #63407
It’s good she’s hungry. List them high and make her work for them. No communication necessary. Let the language be money 🙂
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